NFL: 2 Predictions for the Carolina Panthers in 2016

July 29, 2016

For us, one of the best days of the year is when the football season commences. That is when we can sit back, relax, and watch our favorite teams as they try to make their way to the biggest sporting event of the year, the Super Bowl. This momentous game is the highlight of the season as two of the best football teams on the planet fight it out for a place in the history books. However, even after you experience all the excitement and thrills that are to be expected from the Super Bowl, there finally comes a time when it hits you-the season is over.

The offseason is tough to handle for the fans of the sport but there is one thing that keeps us going; the thought of the new campaign. The thought of watching rejuvenated teams, heading back out on to the field to, either, continue with their dominant form, or, to put right the mistakes of the past.

For the Carolina Panthers, the new season is all about redemption. Last year they got so close to winning the Super Bowl, with only the Denver Broncos in their way. Yet they ultimately failed and will be looking to bounce back this term. However, even though it is really hard to predict how they will perform in the future, especially in a sport like football where anything is possible, we are still going to give it a try. So here are our two Bold Predictions for the Carolina Panthers in 2016.

Last year the Panthers finally reached their full potential and blew all their opponents out of the water. They only lost one game during the entire regular season and managed to win fifteen on the way to the playoffs. Once there, they continued their positive run of form and discarded the Seattle Seahawks and the Arizona Cardinals in the division and conference finals respectively, before reaching the Super Bowl.

The Panthers had a great defensive set up last year and did very well to stifle the opposition’s offense. They kept quarterbacks from around the league on a passing rating of just 73.5 and recorded 24 interceptions, leading the league in both statistics. They had six all-pros last season and many of these players will enter the new season with most of their form intact. The team will also be hungry for revenge and will want to make up for their mistakes last season and go for the ultimate glory in football, once again.

Cam Newton will be League MVP once again

When Cam Newton was drafted in at number one back in 2011, expectations were quite high from this former Heisman Trophy winner. And unlike many of his predecessors, he did not disappoint. Since then he has improved with every passing season and seemed to reach new heights last year. He recorded 35 passing touchdowns and 10 rushing touchdowns in the regular season and was an unstoppable force in the playoffs altogether.

He had the highest passing yards in the league with just over 750, while he also recorded the best average of passing yards as well. Due to his influence, his team led the league in points per game, and when they lost out to the Broncos in the finals, it was clear to see that Newton was the most affected by this defeat.

In his press conference after the game, he failed to answer most of the questions posed to him by the press and when he did, he only answered in monosyllables. After facing criticism for his behavior over the next few days, he defended himself by saying “I’m a sore loser. Who likes to lose? You show me a good loser and I’m going to show you a loser. It’s not a popularity contest. I am here to win football games.” But in the end he reiterated his desire to have another shot at the Super Bowl, saying “We will be back. I mean that. We will be back.” And we believe him!